A report by the Association of Research Libraries shows that many research libraries at U.S. colleges and universities have limited access to their institutions’ alumni and often struggle to identify donor prospects.

Last month, the Association of Governing Boards published a Statement on Board Accountability encouraging all governing boards and chief executives to examine the clarity, coherence, and appropriateness of their institutions’ governance structures, policies, and practices.

CASE, along with other organizations, will meet with members of Congress in the coming weeks to support the expansion and extension of a provision that allows U.S. donors to roll over their IRA assets to charities without incurring tax penalties.

On Jan. 5, the U.S. House of Representatives approved new lobbying and ethics rules (H.R. 4682) that prohibit House members and staff from accepting travel funded by nongovernmental organizations that retain or employ registered lobbyists.

Districts I and II are holding a joint conference Feb. 10-13 at the Marriott Marquis in New York. "A Meeting of the Minds" will focus on advancement trends, hot topics and best practices.

District III's annual conference, held this year at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel, had a record attendance of more than 1,100. Featured speakers included John Lippincott, president of CASE; William Sturtevant, senior vice president for principal gifts at the University of Illinois Foundation; April Harris, director of alumni relations at the University of Alabama in Huntsville; and King McGlaughon, director of Wachovia's National Philanthropic Program.

Larry Lauer, vice chancellor of marketing and communication at Texas Christian University, moderated a panel of four presidents: Robert Jennings, Alabama A&M University; Ann McGee, Seminole Community College; John Petersen, the University of Tennessee System; and Larry Schall, Oglethorpe University.

The CASE III annual conference returns to Atlanta in 2008 and will be held Feb. 17-20 at the Hyatt Regency.

District VI hosted its annual conference Jan. 21-23 in Kansas City, Mo. There were 559 participants, including attendees, scholarship recipients, resource partners and speakers. Plan now to attend the 2008 conference, "The Great Adventure", which takes place Jan. 13-15, 2008, in Denver, Colo.

District VII will hold a CASE Major Gifts Roundtable from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 9, at Occidental College in Eagle Rock, Calif.

In addition, the district welcomes Timothy L. O'Malley, vice president for university relations at the University of San Diego, as the board's new director for senior programming. Tim originally hails from District VIII, where he served as the district trustee.

The hard hats are on and the hammers are swinging as the countdown begins for District VIII's annual conference in Boise, Idaho, Feb. 21-24. The "Boise Toolbox: Equipping Advancement Professionals" is sure to give you the necessary tools to tackle anything from donor maintenance problems to alumni repairs to communications conundrums. It's not too late to register. Registering online is fast, easy and secure.

Comments and Questions

Please share your questions and comments with Pam Russell via email at russell@case.org or by telephone at +1-202-478-5680.

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